Dry cleaning machine



April 3, 1962 j MCCALLUM DRY CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 8, 1960 ATTORNEY walrlld April 1952 D. J. MCCALLUM 3,027,739

DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/Vl/ENTORDav/0 (/M CcY/M/W RNEY.

April 3, 1962 D. J. MCCALLUM DRY CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. Dav/'0 J. M? C0//um BY ATTOKNEX April 3, 1962 D.J. M CALLUM 3,027,739

DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWW UnitedStates Patent Ofiice 3,027,739 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,027,739 DRYCLEANING MACHINE David J. McCallum, 8560 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo,Mich. Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,080 18 Claims. (Cl. 68-5) Thisinvention relates to improvements in dry cleaning machine. The principalobjects of this invention are,

First, to provide a machine for cleaning garments and fabrics by meansof a recirculated current of heated air and cleaning vapors.

Second, to provide an air and vapor dry cleaning machine with means forproviding a drying cycle in which dry heated air only is circulatedthrough the fabric being cleaned.

Third, to provide a dry cleaning machine with means for injecting aspray of dry cleaning vapor into a stream of circulating air and forcingthe mixture through the fabric to be cleaned and thereafter separatingthe cleaning vapors and liquids from the air to filter out dirt andimpurities withdrawn from the fabric and returning the cleaning fluidfor reuse in the machine.

Fourth, to provide a dry cleaning machine which can conveniently bemanufactured in a size and capacity for economical domestic use in ahome and which will operate without danger of escape of toxic ordangerous cleaning solvents from the machine.

Fifth, to provide a dry cleaning machine which will selectively inject acleaning solvent from one or the other of two sources or in mixture fromthe sources into a stream of air forced through the fabric to becleaned.

Sixth, to provide a dry cleaning machine of domestic size and capacityhaving automatic controls for forcing and recirculating a stream of hotair through fabric to be cleaned and introducing a spray of cleaningsolvent into the stream during a portion of the cleaning cycle andthereafter discontinuing the supply of cleaning solvent and introducingfresh filtered and heated air for delivery through the fabric, andfiltering residue of cleaning solvent from the air prior to exhaustingthe air from the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are four sheets, illustrate a highlypractical form of the dry cleaning machine.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine partially broken away inhorizontal cross section to illustrate interior parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the broken line 33 in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 44 in FIG. 3 and looking forwardly toward the front ofthe machine.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 55 in FIGS. 1 and 7.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 66 in FIG. 3 with parts further broken away in cross section.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through the aircontrol damper shaft taken along the plane of the broken line 77 in FIG.3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the fluid selectorvalve taken along the plane of the line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls and operatingelements of the machine.

The machine consists generally of a forward base or pedestal 1 on top ofwhich is mounted a work receiving pad 2. Rearwardly of the pedestal 1 isa cabinet 3 enclosing parts of the operating mechanism of the machineand on top of which is mounted a blower and pump housing 4. A dischargethroat 5 from the blower delivers through a hinged connection 6 to apressing and cleaning head 7 which is swingable downwardly into lappedsealed engagement with the cleaning pad 2. A combined latch and safetyswitch 8 locks the cleaning head to the pad 2 in a manner which will bedescribed in greater detail presently.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the forward pedestal orbase 1 encloses a filter system positioned below the pad 2. The centralportion of the pad 2 is perforated or formed of relatively heavy wiremesh as at 9 so as to support the garment or fabric to be cleaned whilepermitting gas or vapor to be forced through the pad into the separatorand filter section. The filter and separator consists of a plurality ofalternately staggered and tilted plates 10. The plates are inclinedlaterally toward the sides of the pedestal as appears in FIG. 4 andforwardly toward the front of the machine as shown in FIG. 3, so thatthe mixture of air and dry cleaning vapors discharged through the Wiremesh 9 are caused to travel circuitously and impinge successivelyagainst the plates whereby vapors and liquids in the air are separatedand condensed and drained forwardly through ports 11 into an uprightfilter 12 mounted along the inside of the front wall of the pedestal.The filter 12 is filled with diatomaceous earth or other suitablefiltering media to absorb and screen out oils, greases, impurities andother foreign materials abstracted from the fabric being cleaned by thecleaning fluid. The filter 12 discharges the separated and filteredcleaning fluid into a settling tank 13 near the bottom of the pedestalwhich further separates impurities from the fluid and overflows into acollecting tank or sump 14 in the bottom of the edestal. The baflleplates 10 constitute separators for separating the liquid and gaseouscomponents of the cleaning mixture.

At the back of the separator plates 10 there are provided two uprighttransverse plates 15 and 16 forming a recirculating duct 17 completelyacross the rear end of the pedestal. At the upper end of the duct 17there is provided a recirculating port 18 selectively closed by a dampervalve 19 and opening into a downwardly extending heating chamber 20having an electrical heating element 21 therein. The heating chamber 20opens centrally near its bottom to the inlet 22 of a suction fandesignated in its entirety by the numeral 23. The suction fan 23 isdriven by a motor 24 and delivers through an upwardly extendingdischarge duct 25 to one end of a centrifugal blower 26 positioned inthe previously described blower and pump housing 4. The blower 26 isthus connected in series with the suction fan 23 to increase thepressure and velocity with which air is circulated through the system.As previously stated, the blower 26 discharges through the throat 5 intothe hollow pressing and cleaning head 7 which has a perforate or meshundersurface 27 registering with the mesh surface 9 of the cleaning pad.

The blower 26 on the upper side of the cabinet is driven by a secondmotor 28, see FIG. 2, which also drives a high pressure liquid pump 29mounted on the opposite side of the blower 26. The pump 29 functions todeliver cleaning fluid from sources to be described to the deliverynozzle 30 positioned in the blower neck 5 to introduce a fine spray ofcleaning fluid into the stream of air circulated through the machine.

The cleaning fluid delivered through the nozzle 30 comes alternativelyor in combination from three sources. The first is a tank 31 adapted toreceive or hold a supply of fresh cleaning solvent or cleaning fluid.The second source is a tank 32 adapted to receive and collect refilteredcleaning fluid after it is collected from the sump 14, and the thirdsource is the sump 14 itself. Cleaning fluid is circulated primarily byasuction pump 33 mounted on the end of the lower motor 24 and connectedto draw liquid through the pipe 34 from a manually adjustable regulatingvalve 35. As appears more clearly from FIG. 8, the valve 35 has a lowersump portion from which the pipe 34 draws. Liquid is supplied to thesump of the valve from either a pipe 36 extending to the new fluid tank31 or a pipe 37 extending to the reused fluid tank 32 or a pipe 38extending to the sump 14 at the bottom of the separating and filteringchamber in the pedestal. The pipe 38 has a small constantly openrestriction 39 therein so that the suction in the pipe 34 constantlydraws some filtered fluid into the regulator valve 35 to keep the sump14 empty. The pipes 36 and 37 from. the new and the reused fluid tanksopen to opposite ends of a selector chamber 40 with a selector valve 41therein. The valve element 41 can be moved by the manual control handle42 to close the valve head 43 in the opening to the new fluid pipe 36and correspondingly open the valve head 44 from the opening to thereused fluid pipe 37 in which case all of the fluid in excess of thatrecovered through the pipe 38 will be drawn from the reused fluid tank.The valve head 44 has a small constantly open bypass passage 45 thereinso that regardless of the position of the valve element 41, some fluidwill be returned to the system from the reused fluid tank. The selectorchamber delivers into the sump of the control valve 35 in response toactuation of a valve 46 opened by a float 47 in the sump of the controlvalve. Thus when an insufficient amount of cleaning fluid is recoveredfrom the separator chamber through the pipe 38, the float 47 will fall,opening the valve 46 for an increased supply of fluid from either orboth the new fluid tank 31 or the reused fluid tank 32. The valve 46 hasa small restricted passage 48 therethrough so that regardless of theposition of the float 47, some cleaning fluid will be added to the fluidbeing recovered from the sump 14.

From the primary suction pump 33 and its suction pipe 34 the selectedmixture of cleaning fluid is delivered through a pipe 49 to thepreviously described high pressure spray pump 29 on the end of the upperblower 26. Any and all excess of the cleaning fluid delivered to thepump 29 which is not immediately discharged through the nozzle 30 isreturned through a pipe 50 to the refiltered or reused fluid tank 32.There is thus constantly available a supply of cleaning solvent or fluidfrom three. different sources and in various combinations from thosesources at the spray nozzle 30.

Alternative air flow passages from the under side of the cleaning pad 9are provided for different portions of the cleaning cycle. At the upperend of the separator chamher and along the rear edge thereof there isprovided an outlet port 51 controlled by a damper valve 52 anddelivering to a downwardly extending outlet duct 53 which opens into afilter chamber 54 in the bottom of the cabinet. The chamber 54 isfiltered with activated carbon 55 (see FIG. 6) and is provided with anoutlet vent 56 for connection to a vent to the outside of the building.Thus when the damper valve 52 is open air and such cleaning vapors as itmay contain which is delivered through the cleaning-pad can escapethrough the duct 53 and filter chamber 54 to the outside after firstbeing passed through the activated carbon to absorb the cleaning fluidvapors.

The damper valve 52 for the outlet vent 53 is mounted upon a control orrock shaft 57 which also carries the previously described damper valve19 positioned at the upper end of the recirculating duct 17. As appearsmost clearly from FIG. 3, when the damper valve 52 is open asillustrated, the damper valve 19 is closed and all air delivered throughthe cleaning pad will take the path of least resistance through thedischarge vent 53 rather than passing downwardly through the separatorand filter chambers. At this time and in this position of the dampervalve 19, a port 58 at the upper end of the. heater chamber 20 is openedto a suction or inlet duct 59 extending downwardly behind the heaterchamber to an inlet chamber or tank 68 positioned at the bottom of thecabinet 3 alongside of the discharge filter 54. The inlet filter chamber60 is provided with a suitable dry air filter 61 and draws air throughthe inlet 62 to filter the air of dust and deliver it to the heaterchamber 20. The incoming dry air is heated by the heating element 21 toa temperature controlled by the thermostat 63 and drawn in by thesuction blowers 23 for delivery to the high pressure blower 26.

When the damper valves 19 and 52 are in the positions shown by thedotted lines in FIG. 3 and by full line section in FIG. 5, the aircirculating passage through the cleaner is from the cleaning pad 9through the separator chamber and recirculating duct 17 to the heaterchamber 20 and suction blower 23. Since the blower 23 delivers to theblower 26 and the cleaning head 7, a recirculating path with two bloweror pump means connected in series is provided for effectiverecirculation of heated air and selected quantities of cleaning fluidthrough the fabric on the cleaning pad.

For an explanation of the cleaning cycles for which the machine isparticularly adapted, attention is directed primarily to the circuitdiagram FIG. 9 with cross reference to the structural figuresillustrating the parts controlled by the electrical elements. An on-oifswitch 64 functions first to energize the heating element 21 through thethermostat 63 and an On indicator light 65 and a temperature indicatorlight 66. Normally in operation of the apparatus the cleaning head 7will be raised initially and the safety latch and switch 8 will be openso that no other electrical circuit is completed. When the thermostat 63indicates the correct temperature in the heating chamber 20, the heatingelement 21 and the indicator light 66 will be de-energized indicatingthat the machine or apparatus is ready for operation. An operator thenplaces the garment or fabric to be cleaned on the mesh 9 of the cleaningpad 2 and closes the cleaning head 7 with the safety latch and switch 8.This completes a circuit through the motor 24 to a timing device 67having a selectively settable contact 68 that progressively advanceswith time to engage first a contact 69 and then a contact 70. Initialengagement of the contacts 68 and 69 for a pre-selected period completesa circuit through both the motor 24 and the motor 28 for the upper highpressure blower 26. This starts what may be defined as the cleaningcycle during which both blowers are operating for maximum circulatingforce and during which both the suction pump 33 and the high pressurespray pump 29 are driven to deliver a spray of cleaning fluid into therecirculated and heated current of air. A very effective mixture ofheated air and cleaning vapors is thus forced continually through thefabric with separation, filtration and reuse of the cleaning fluid foreconomy.

After the cleaning cycle is completed as determined by movement of thecontact 68 away from the contact 69, a circuit is immediately completedto the contact 70 and a solenoid control 71 connected to the dampershaft 57 to move the damper valves 52 and 19 to the position illustratedin FIG. 3 in full lines. This de-activates the upper blower motor 28 andalso the high pressure liquid pump 29 to discontinue the supply ofcleaning fluid to the cleaning head and start what may be defined as adrying and recovery cycle. The vacuum blower unit 23 continues tooperate to draw in fresh filtered air through the duct 59, heat the airand force it through the cleaning pad 2 to the activated carbon filter54 and the vent 56. At the same time the liquid suction pump 33continues to operate to draw up refiltered liquid which may be draininggradually through the filter 12 during the in active period of theseparator chamber. This recovered fiuid is delivered to the upper pump29, but due to the deactivation of that pump is returned immediatelythrough the overflow 50 to the refiltered fluid collecting tank 32. Whenthe timing unit 67 completes its timed cycle and disengages from thecontact 70, the cleaning and drying operation is complete and allelements are de-energized except the heating element 21 which remainsactive for a succeeding cleaning cycle.

In order to render the apparatus safe for use of cleaning fluids andsolvents which may be somewhat toxic or dangerous, the coacting edges ofthe cleaning pad 2 and the cleaning head 6 around the perforate grills 9and 27 are provided with spaced annular seals 72 which close upon eachother when the cleaning head 7 is closed, thus forming an annular safetypassage 73 completely around the cleaning head and cleaning pad duringthe operating cycle of the apparatus. This safety passage 73 isconnected by means of a suction pipe 74 to a safety suction pump 75positioned between the blower assembly 23 and the motor 24 to beoperated at all times that the apparatus is in operation, including thedrying cycle. The safety pump 75 delivers through the outlet 76 to theactivated carbon chamber 54 for venting through the outside vent 56.Thus any fumes which might conceivably escape from the cleaning head 7are safely withdrawn and passed through the activated carbon 55 to anoutside vent and the apparatus is completely safe for opeartion in ahome by relatively inexperienced operators.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising apedestal having a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, aliquid-from-air separator chamber in said pedestal receiving from saidpad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage,a liquid sump positioned to receive liquid from said filter, an airheating chamber at the rear of said recirculating passage in saidpedestal and selectively communicating with said recirculating passagethrough a damper controlled port, a first damper for said port, acabinet behind said pedestal supporting a first blower and driving motortherefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, a second blowerand driving motor therefor positioned on top of said cabinet andconnected to receive the output from said first blower, a hollowperforate cleaning head selectively movable into opposed relation tosaid cleaning pad and to fluid receiving relation to the output of saidsecond blower, liquid pumps connected in series and driven by saidmotors, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump anddelivering in the output stream of the second blower, a suctionconnection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible tosaid sump at the bottom of said filter and a supply tank of freshcleaning liquid and a tank of recirculated cleaning liquid, a manualcontrol for setting said suction connection, an overflow connection fromthe inlet to said second pump to said tank of recirculated liquid toby-pass liquid not delivered by said second pump to said nozzle, aninlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said dampercontrolled port to the recirculating chamber, an air filter connected tothe inlet end of said inlet vent, an outlet vent from the upper end ofsaid separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent anddelivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and an exhaust vent, andelectrical controls including a timing device connected tosimultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initialperiod while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivatethe final liquid pump and associated blower and open said inlet andoutlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and pump,said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety passage formedtherearound and therebetween and connected to a suction pump deliveringto said absorbing chamber and driven by said first motor to preventescape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head.

2. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising apedestal having a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, aliquid-from-air separator chamber in said pedestal receiving from saidpad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage,a liquid sump positioned to receive liquid from said filter, an airheating chamber at the rear of said recirculating passage selectivelycommunicating with said recirculating passage through a dampercontrolled port, a first damper for said port, a cabinet behind saidpedestal supporting a first blower and driving motor therefor arrangedto draw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motortherefor positioned on top of said cabinet and connected to receive theoutput from said first blower, a hollow perforate cleaning headselectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad and tofluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower, liquidpumps. connected in series and driven by said .motors, a spray nozzleconnected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the outputstream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of saidliquid pumps selectively connectiole to said sump at the bottom of saidfilter and a supply tank of fresh cleaning liquid and a tank ofrecirculated cleaning liquid, a manual control for setting said suctionconnection, an overflow connection to by-pass liquid not delivered bysaid second pump to said nozzle, an inlet vent to the heating chamberopened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculatingchamber, an outlet vent from the upper end of said separator chamberopened simultaneously with said inlet vent and delivering to a vaporabsorbing chamber and an exhaust vent, and electrical controls includinga timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blowersand pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents areclosed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and associated blowerand open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate saidfirst blower and pump, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having asafety passage formed therearound and therebetween and connected to asuction pump to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad andhead.

3. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising aperforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, a liquid-from-air separatorchamber receiving from said pad and delivering to a liquid filter and anair recirculating passage, a liquid sump receiving from said liquidfilter, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with saidrecirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damperfor said port, a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged todraw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motortherefor connected to receive the output from said first blower, ahollow cleaning head having a perforate face selectively movable intoopposed relation to said cleaning pad and concurrent fluid receivingrelation to the output of said second blower, liquid pumps connected inseries and driven by said motors, a spray nozzle connected to the outputof the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the secondblower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumpsselectively connectible to said sump at the bottom of said filter and asupply tank of fresh cleaning fluid and a tank of recirculated cleaningliquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of saiddamper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent fromthe inlet end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with saidinlet vent and delivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and vent, andelectrical controls including a timing device connected tosimultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initialperiod while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivatethe final liquid pump and associated blower and open said inlet andoutlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and firstpump.

4. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad on thetop thereof, a liquid-from-air separa tor chamber receiving from saidpad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage,a liquid sump receiving from said liquid filter, an air heating chamberselectively communicating with said recirculating passage through adamper controlled port, a first damper for said port, a first blower anddriving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, asecond blower and driving motor therefor connected to receive the outputfrom said first blower, a hollow cleaning head having a perforate faceselectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad andconcurrent fluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower,separately driven liquid pumps connected in series, a spray nozzleconnected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the outputstream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of saidliquid pumps selectively connectible to said sump at the bottom of saidfilter and a first tank of cleaning fluid and a second tank of cleaningliquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of saiddamper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent fromthe inlet end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with saidinlet vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connectedto simultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initialperiod while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivatethe final liquid pump and blower and open said inlet and outlet ventswhile continuing to operate said first blower and first pump.

5. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising aperforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable intoopposed relation closed upon each other, a liquid-from-air separatorchamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to aliquid filter and an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamberselectively communicating with said recirculating passage through adamper controlled port, a first damper adapted to close said port, afirst blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air fom saidheating chamber and having a delivery duct delivering to the other ofsaid perforate elements, separately driven liquid pumps connected inseries, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump anddelivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection tothe first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to a first tankof cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet ventto the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlledport to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from the inlet end ofsaid separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent anddelivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and vent, and electricalcontrols including a timing device connected to simultaneously operatesaid motor, blower and pumps for an initial period while said inlet andoutlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump andopen said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said blowerand said first pump, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safetypassage formed thereon and connected to a suction pump driven by saidfirst motor to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head,said pad and head having a safety latch and switch connected in serieswith said controls to prevent operation of said liquid pumps when saidpad and head are open.

6. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad andcoacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed relation closedupon each other, a liquid-from-air separator chamber connected to one ofsaid perforate elements and delivering to a liquid filter and an airrecirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicatingwith said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, afirst damper adapted to close said port, a first blower and drivingmotor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber and havinga delivery duct delivering to the other of said perforate elements,separately driven liquid pumps connected in series, a spray nozzleconnected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the outputstream of the blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquidpumps selectively connectible to a first tank of cleaning liquid and asecond tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamberopened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculatingchamber, an outlet vent from said separator chamber openedsimultaneously with said inlet vent, and electrical controls including atiming device connected to simultaneously operate said motor, blower andpumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closedand then deactivate the final liquid pump and open said inlet and outletvents while continuing to operate said blower and said first pump, saidpad and head having a safety latch and switch connected in series withsaid controls to prevent operation of said liquid pumps when said padand head are open.

7. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad andcoacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation oneach other, a liquidfrom-air separator chamber connected to one of saidperforate elements and delivering to a liquid filter and an airrecirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicatingwith said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, adamper for said port, a blower and driving motor therefor arranged todraw air forn said heating chamber and deliver to the other of saidperforate elements, a liquid pump driven by a second motor, a spraynozzle connected to the output of the pump and delivering in the outputstream of the blower, a suction connection to said liquid pumpselectively connectible to a sump at the bottom of said filter and afirst tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, aninlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said dampercontrolled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from saidseparator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, andelectrical controls including a timing device connected tosimultaneously operate said motors, blower and pump for an initialperiod while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivatethe liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaust vents while continuingto operate said blower, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having asafety pas sage formed therebetween and therearound and connected to asuction pump driven by said blower motor to prevent escape of cleaningvapors from said pad and head, said controls including a safety switchclosed in the closed position of said pad and said head.

8. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad andcoacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation oneach other, a liquidfrom-air separator chamber connected to one of saidperforate elements and delivering to an air recirculating passage, anair heating chamber selectively communicating with said. recirculatingpassage through a damper con trolled port, a damper for said port, ablower and driving motor therefor arranged to dry air from said heatingchamber and deliver to the other of said perforate ele ments, a liquidpump driven by a second motor, a spray nozzle connected to the output ofthe pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suctionconnection to said liquid pump selectively connectible to a first tankof cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet ventto the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlledport to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separatorchamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, and electricalcontrols connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blower andpump for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closedand then deactivate the liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaustvents while continuing to operate said blower, said cleaning pad andcleaning head having a safety passage formed therebetween andtherearound and connected to a suction pump 9 to prevent escape ofcleaning vapors fromsaid pad and head, said controls including a safetyswitch closed in the closed position of said pad and said head.

9. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad andcoacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation oneach other, a liquidfrorn-air separator chamber connected to one of saidperforate elements and delivering to an air recirculating passage, anair heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculatingpassage through a damper controlled port, a damper for said port, ablower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heatingchamber and deliver to the other of said perforate elements, a liquidpump driven by a second motor, a spray nozzle connected to the output ofthe pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suctionconnection to said liquid pump selectively connectible to a first tankof cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet ventto the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlledport to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separatorchamber opened simultaneously with said linet vent, and electricalcontrols connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blower andpump for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closedand then deactivate the liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaustvents while continuing to operate said blower.

10. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof,coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of saidmembers when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members,blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculatingpassage, a liquidfrom-air separating chamber formed in said passage andahead of said blower means, a heating element positioned in said passageto create a heating chamber between said separating chamber and saidblower means, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means foropening said inlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heatingchamber from said separating chamber, other damper means for opening andclosing said outlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, aliquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculatingpassage ahead of said pad and head members, a motor connected to drivesaid pump, a second motor connected to drive said blower, a vacuum pumpdriven by one of said motors and connected to said safety passage,plural sources of cleaning fluid and a manually adjustable valve forselectively connecting the inlet of said,liquid pump to said sources,and automatic control means connected for separately and concurrentlyactuating said blower motor and said pump motor and for alternativelyactuating said first damper means to open said inlet passage to saidheating chamber and close said separating chamber from said heatingchamber and open said outlet passage to said separating chamber whensaid liquid pump is deactivated.

11. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting cham bers behind the perforate surfaces thereof,coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of saidmembers when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members,blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculatingpassage, a liquidfrom-air separating chamber formed in said passage, aheating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber,an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening saidinlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber fromsaid separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing saidoutlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, a liquid pump havinga discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead ofsaid pad and head members, a motor connected to drive said pump, asecond motor connected to drive said blower, a vacuum pump driven by oneof said motors and connected to said safety passage, plural sources ofcleaning fluid and a manually adjustable valve for selectivelyconnecting the inlet of said liquid pump to said sources, and automaticcontrol means connected for separately and concurrently actuating saidblower motor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating saidfirst damper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamberand close said separating chamber from said heating chamber and opensaid outlet passage to said separating chamber when said liquid pump isdeactivated.

12. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof,coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of saidmembers when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members,blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculatingpassage, a liquid-from-air separating chamber formed in said passage, aheating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber,an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening saidinlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber fromsaid separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing saidoutlet duct with respect. to said separator chamber, a liquid pumphaving a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage aheadof said pad and head members, a vacuum pump connected to said safetypassage, and motor means connected to drive said blower, said liquidpump and said vacuum pump.

13. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers ofsaid members, blower means positioned to circulate a stream of airthrough said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamberformed in said passage on the downstream side of said members, a heatingelement positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an airinlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet ductto said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber from saidseparating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing saidoutlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, a liquid pump havinga discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead ofsaid pad and head members, a motor connected to drive said pump, asecond motor connected to drive said blower, a source of cleaning fluidconnected to the inlet of said liquid pump, and automatic control meansconnected for separately and concurrently actuating said blower motorand said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said first dampermeans to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber and close saidseparating chamber from said heating chamber and open said outletpassage to said separating chamber when said liquid pump is deactivated.

14. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers ofsaid members, blower means positioned to circulate a stream of airthrough said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamberformed in said passage on the downstream side of said members, a heatingelement positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an airinlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet ductto said heating chamseparately and concurrently actuating said blowermotor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said firstdamper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber andclose said heating chamber from the downstream side of said members andopen said outlet passage to said downstream side of said members whensaid liquid pump is deactivated.

15-. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof,coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of saidmembers when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers ofsaid members, blower means positioned to circulate astream of airthrough said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamberformed in said passage, a heating element positioned in said passagetocreatea heatingcharnber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, dampermeansfor opening said,

inlet duct to said recirculating passage ahead of said heating chamberandinterrupting the continuity of said recirculating passage, otherdamper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect tosaid recirculating passage ahead of said first damper means, a liquidpump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating .passageahead of said pad and headmembers, motor means connectedto drive saidpump and a vacuum pump connected to said safety chamber, a source ofcleaning fluid connected to the inlet of saidrliquid pump, and controlmeans connected for separately and concurrently 7 rate pad and headmembers movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollowfluid conducting chambers behind the perforatesurfaces thereof, ductmeans defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers ofsaid members, blower means positioned to circu late a stream of airthrough said recirculating passage,

an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening saidinlet duct to said recirculating passage and interrupting the continuityof said recirculating passage, other damper means for opening andclosing said outlet duct with respect to said recirculating passageahead of said first damper means, a liquid pump having a dischargenozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad andhead members, motor means connected to drive said pump and a source ofcleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said liquid pump, and controlmeans connected for separately and concurrently actuating said blowerand said pump and for alternatively actuating said damper means to opensaid inlet duct to said recirculating passage and interrupt said passageand open said outlet duct when said liquid pump is deactivated.

17. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate head and padmembers having fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate facesthereof, duct means forming a fluid recirculating passage between saidchambers, blower means arranged to force a stream of air throughsaid'passage and said members, pump means and a nozzle arranged tointroduce a spray of cleaning liquid into said stream, a liquid-from-airseparator positioned in said passage on the downstream side of saidmembers from said nozzle, a heater positioned to heat the air in saidpassage, a sump in said separator, a source of cleaning liquid, valvemeans selectively connecting the intake of said pump means to saidsource and said sump, and controls for selectively actuating said pumpmeans, said heater, and said blower means.

18. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate head and padmembers having fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate facesthereof, duct means forming a fluid recirculating passage between saidchambers, blower means arranged to force a stream of air through saidpassage and said members, pump means and a nozzle arranged to introducea spray of cleaning liquid into said stream, a liquid-from-air separatorpositioned in said passage on the downstream side of said members fromsaid nozzle, a sump in said separator, a source of cleaning liquid,valve means selectively connecting the intake of said pump means to saidsource and said sump, and controls for selectively actuating said pumpmeans and said blower means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,254,691 MacLelland" Sept. 2, 1941 2,586,569 Sedgwick Feb. 19, 19522,607,209 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 2,959,047 Karrer Nov. 8, 1960

